SIMBA SC head coach Fadlu Davids has expressed confidence following the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final draw, where his side was paired against Egyptian outfit Al Masry.

Speaking after the draw, which was conducted in Qatar on Thursday, Davids (pictured) emphasized that his team was prepared for any opponent at this stage of the competition and vowed to fight for a place in the semi-finals.

“There are no easy matches in the quarter-finals. Al Masry is a strong team, but we are also well-prepared to face them,” Davids stated.

Simba’s head coach highlighted the advantage of his team’s pre-season preparations in Egypt, where they played several friendly matches, allowing players to familiarize themselves with the conditions they will encounter in the upcoming fixture.

“During our pre-season, we had the opportunity to train in Egypt and play a few friendly matches. That experience will help our players adapt quickly to the environment they will face in the first leg,” he explained.

Davids also underlined the significance of finishing at the top of their group in the competition, which granted Simba the advantage of playing the return leg at home.

“The importance of winning our group is evident now. We will start in Egypt and finish the tie at home in front of our fans,” he said.

He acknowledged the challenge of playing the first leg away but remained optimistic that his team would secure a favourable result before returning to Dar es Salaam.

“The first leg in Egypt will not be easy, but I believe we will have a good opportunity to perform well when we play in front of our home supporters in the return leg,” Davids added.

The first leg of the quarter-final clash is scheduled for April 1 or 2, with the return fixture set for April 8 or 9 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Simba remain the only Tanzanian team still in continental competition after Young Africans (Yanga), Coastal Union, and Azam FC were eliminated. 

The club is now eyeing a historic semi-final qualification, having previously reached the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup quarter-finals in past seasons.

This marks the second time Simba and Al Masry will meet in the CAF Confederation Cup. Their previous encounter was in 2018 during the second round of the competition, where Simba were eliminated on away goals. 

In the first leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the teams played out a 2-2 draw in a rain-soaked encounter. The return leg in Egypt ended in a goalless draw, which saw Al Masry advance.

If Simba advance past Al Masry, they could face another Egyptian side, Zamalek, or South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC in the semi-finals. This scenario could see Simba returning to Egypt for another crucial tie.

Should Simba progress to the final, they might encounter one of ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast), RS Berkane (Morocco), CS Constantine (Algeria), or USM Alger (Algeria), depending on the outcomes of the other quarter-final fixtures.

With the team’s ambition to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history, Simba will be looking to capitalize on their experience, squad depth, and home advantage to overcome Al Masry and keep their dream of continental glory alive.